International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (IJAERS)

[Vol-3, Issue-9, Sept- 2016]

https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijaers
ISSN: 2349-6495(P) | 2456-1908(O)

Synthesis of Rice Straw Fiber Reinforced

Natural Rubber Composite and Effects of
Surface Treatment in its Mechanical Properties
Anand G S1, Jayamohan K G2
1

Mtech Student, College of Engineering and Management, Punnapra, Alappuzha, Kerala

Assistant Professor, College of Engineering and Management, Punnapra, Alappuzha, Kerala

AbstractIn the last decade the use of natural fiber in

reinforcement of composite materials is increased,
because of growing environmental awareness. The main
objective of present work is to study the mechanical
properties of rice straw fiber reinforced natural rubber
composites at different weight fractions (20%, 30%, 40%,
50% and 60%) of rice straw fiber under treated and non
treated conditions. At first the fiber is treated with NaOH,
and then composite is manufactured for both untreated
and treated fiber. After the synthesis of rice straw fiber
reinforced natural rubber composite, The effects of
surface treatment in its mechanical properties are
studied. Rice straw fiber reinforced natural rubber
composites were manufactured according to ASTM
standards using compression molding technique. The
developed composites were then tested for their
mechanical properties, tensile, tear, density, abrasion,
hardness, compression, and water absorption properties.
The standard test methods used is, ASTM-D638M for
tensile properties.
KeywordsMechanical properties, Natural rubber,
composite material, Rice straw fiber, Surface Treatment.
I. INTRODUCTION
In the last decade, using natural fiber-reinforced materials
in the manufacturing of composite materials has
significantly increased due to growing environmental
awareness. The main components of the composites are,
Matrix material.
Reinforcing material.
The matrix materials are the majority part of the
composite, which bound the fiber each other in the
composite to increase the adhesion between the matrix
and fiber. The reinforcing materials that are mainly fiber
materials, and the are used to increase the strength and
stiffness of the matrix. The natural fiber reinforced
composite materials are more biodegradable than other
composites. The natural fiber reinforced composite
having a great -

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advantage in design sectors. Natural fiber-reinforced

materials have a great environmental advantages such as
reduced dependence on non-renewable energy/material
sources, lesser strength to weight ratio, less pollutants and
greenhouse emissions. The composite materials can be
classified in to many types, basically it is of tow types,
they are based on the matrix material used, based on
reinforcing material used and based on reinforcing
material structure. They are,
Based on matrix material,
Metal Matrix Composites (MMC).
Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC)
Polymer Matrix Composites (PMC)
Base on reinforcing material used,
Natural composites
Synthetic composites
Based on reinforcing material structure
Particulate Composites
Fibrous Composites
Laminate Composites
II.
LITERATURE REVIEW
In the modern world the study in the composite materials
is having a great need and applications. In the aircraft
part, manufacturing the metal matrix composite having
great applications. Similarly in automobile sectors latest
trend is natural fiber composites. The natural fiber
composite having a good design possibility, high strength
to weight ratio and they are biodegradable too. So, it is
preferable in the modern world to choose such composite
materials to avoid environmental pollutions. So more
study is needed in the field of natural composite. Recent
studies carried out in composites are the reinforcement of
resin material with coir, coconut shell, human hair so on.
2.1 Investigation Of Mechanical Properties Of Rice
Straw Fibre Polypropylene Composites [1]:- The
present work carried out in the field of rice straw fiber
reinforcement in composites is done by K Sudhakar and
CH Srinivas. They were studied the tensile and flexural
and impact strength of rice straw fiber reinforced
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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (IJAERS)

[Vol-3, Issue-9, Sept- 2016]
https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijaers
ISSN: 2349-6495(P) | 2456-1908(O)
polypropylene composite. Where the tensile strength is
decreasing with the increase in fiber loading.
2.2 A Review on Coconut Shell Reinforced Composites:- The paper studies mechanical properties of
composites with coconut shell reinforcement in various
matrix materials like Recycled Polypropylene, Epoxy
resin, Epoxy resin SY-12(319), etc.
2.3 Mechanical property evaluation of natural fiber
coir composite:- S.harisha,D.peter michaelb, A.benselyb,
D.mohan lalb, A.rajaduraic were studied the tensile
properties of coir fiber reinforced composite, and the
surface morphology is carried out. The surface
morphology study gives a complete idea about the surface
properties of the composite material. Generally the
surface morphology study is carried out in various
composite materials, and that are aims to explain the
break part of composite. The part that are broken by
tensile test and tear test is checked for the surface
morphology study to study how much the final composite
material having the surface finish. And also the surface
morphology study helps to identify the adhesion rate of
fiber and rein material.
III.
EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
This chapter describes the details of processing of the
composites and the experimental procedures followed for
their characterization and mechanical evaluation. The raw
materials used in this work are
1. Rice Straw Fiber
2. Natural rubber resin
3.1 Objectives of the Research Work
The objectives of the project are outlined below.
Fabrication of rice straw fiber reinforced natural
rubber composite.
To study the effects of surface treatment of rice
straw fibre on the mechanical properties of the
composites.
Evaluation of mechanical properties of untreated
and treated rice straw reinforced natural rubber
composite, and its comparison. (tensile strength,
tear strength, density, abrasion, hardness,
compression water absorption etc.).
Also this work is expected to introduce a new
class of polymer composite that might find many
engineering applications.
3.2 Experimental Procedures
3.2.1 Specimen Manufacturing
Rice straw fibers are reinforced with natural rubber
composites were manufactured according to ASTM
standards using compression molding technique.
Composites of five different compositions for each
untreated and treated rice straw fiber i.e. 20wt%, 30wt% ,

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40wt%, 50wt% and 60wt% are made. Specimens of

suitable dimension are cut for different tests.
Fiber Preparation
Resin Selection
Mixing
Cure Time Calculation
Molding
3.2.2 Mechanical testing of RSRNRComposites
Tensile Testing
Tear Testing
Density Testing
Abrasion Testing
Hardness Testing
Compression Testing
Water absorption testing
Fiber Preparation:- To enhance interfacial bonding and to
reduce moisture absorption, The fibers were taken for
special treating process. For that the fibers were pre
washed with distilled water and dried at 50 degree Celsius
for 24 hr and at room temperature for another 24 hours.
After that the fiber is treated with NaOH solution (5 %
w/v) for 1 hour time, then the fiber is washed with
distilled water until the sodium hydroxide was fully
eliminated, that is, until the water no longer indicated any
alkalinity reaction. The treatment with NaOH solution is
called Alkali treatment, otherwise called as mercerization.
The mercerization is one of the most popular chemical
treatment of natural fibers, it helps to increase the
adhesion between rice straw and natural rubber.
Table. 1:chemicals used
Chemicals used(Addings)

Weight in grams

Zinc oxide
Stearic acid
MBTS

5 grams
3 grams
0.2 grams

TMTD

1.5 grams

Sulphur

1.5 grams

Mixing:- The mixing process is the blending of rice straw

and natural rubber, It is using the tow roller mixing
machine, and some chemicals used that are activators
accelerators and hardening chemicals, that are shown in
above table, here ZnO and Stearic acid are activators and
MBTS and TMTD are accelerators and sulphur is
hardening or vulcanizing agent.

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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (IJAERS)

[Vol-3, Issue-9, Sept- 2016]
https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijaers
ISSN: 2349-6495(P) | 2456-1908(O)
Table. 2:cure time of specimens

Fig. 1: Two roller mixing machine

Sl.
No.

Sample Fiber Content

T90 (min)

20 %

23.81

30 %

22.01

40 %

20.38

50 %

1.93

60%

5.11

Tensile test
Tensile test is carried out on a UTM (Universal Testing
Machine) of ASTM (American Society for Testing and
Materials) D-412 used primarily for vulcanized rubber. A
dumbbell shaped specimen is cut from the molded
specimen from each sample to do the testing according to
ASTM standards.

Fig. 2: Compression molding machine

Here, in this synthesis of rice straw fiber reinforced
natural rubber composite the compression technique is
used for the manufacturing of the composite. The
compression molding is carried out in a pressure of 10 to
15 mpa and at a temperature of 150 to 160 degree Celsius.
Water absorption testing:- The water absorption is
conducting by taking the weight difference of the mold
after and before dipping in water for 24 hour time. Here,
the water absorption is calculating for 24 hour time. And
the equation to calculate the water absorption percentage
is as shown below.
2 1
% =
100
1
Where,
M1-mass before dipping in water
M2 mass after dipping in water
WA %- water absorption percentage.
IV.
RESULT AND DISCUSSIONS
For the manufacturing of the composite material, the
compression molding technique needs cure time. The
mould is made by compression for the time of cure time,
at a temperature of 150 to 160 degree Celsius. Curing is a
term in polymer chemistry and process engineering that
refers to the toughening or hardening of a polymer
material by cross-linking of polymer chains. In rubber,
the curing process is also called vulcanization.

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Fig. 3: Specimen for tensile test

The specimen for the tensile test is dumbbell shaped.
Table. 3: tensile strength of each specimens
Specimens
S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
(fiber%)
Tensile
strength
(Mpa)

Untreated

2.32

2.38

2.54

2.6

2.77

treated

7.53

8.13

8.83

9.67

9.21

Figure 3 represents the sample specimen used for tensile

test.

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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (IJAERS)

[Vol Issue-9, Sept- 2016]
[Vol-3,
https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijaers
ISSN: 2349-6495(P)
2349
| 2456-1908(O)

Fig. 6:: Specimen for tear test

Fig. 4: comparing tensile of untreated and treated

A test specimen with 90angle on one side and with tab

ends is used to determine tear strength of rice straw fiber
reinforced natural rubber composites. The specimen cut
for tear test from the mould is shown above in figure
The tear strength also found out in UTM and the results
are plotted below table
Table. 4: tear strength of each specimens
Specimens
S2
S3
S4
S5
S1
(fiber%)
Un
tear
19.6 18.63 16.67 13.73 11.77
strengt treate
2
9
7
4
2
d
h
(KN/ treate 31.7
30.65 29.79 30.03 28.73
m)
d
2
The tear strength of rice straw fiber natural rubber
composite for various fiber loading for treated and
untreted is shon below.
Tear strength (Kn/m)

The result of tensile test shows that , the tensile strength is

increasing with the increasing the fiber loading. For the
treated fiber composite, the result is highly appreciable.
From the literature survey K sudhakar, ch srinivas were
studied the tensile property of rice
ice straw fiber reinforced
Polypropylene Composites [1]. That paper shows a
decreasing value of tensile strength with the increase in
fiber loading. The tensile strength of rice straw with
polypropylene is shown below

Fig. 5: Tensile strength of rice straw

aw with polypropylene
[1]
By comparing the result of previous rice straw
s
fiber with
polypropylene and this present study rice straw fiber with
natural rubber, the percent study rice straw fiber with
natural rubber composite having a better result in adding
the fiber. The result shows the adhesion of rice straw fiber
with natural rubber is more effective and good than the
adhesion between the rice straw with polypropylene.
Tear Strength
The tear strength, a measure of the resistance of a material
to tear
ear force is determined on the same universal testing
machine in accordance with the ASTM D624.

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35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

untreated
treated
S1

S2

S3

S4

S5

specimens (fiber %), untreated

Fig. 7: comparing tear strength of untreated and treated
The result of tear strength of rice straw fiber reinforced
natural rubber composite shows a decrease in value with
the increase in fiber loading.
Density test
The density of the composite material is found out by
using densimeter. In densimeter the relative density is

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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (IJAERS)

[Vol Issue-9, Sept- 2016]
[Vol-3,
https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijaers
ISSN: 2349-6495(P)
2349
| 2456-1908(O)
found out. It is done by finding the density in air and
density in water.
Table. 5: Density of each specimens
Specimens
S4
S5
S1
S2
S3
(fiber%)
Densit untreate 0.99 1.00 1.06 1.10 1.14
2
5
d
6
7
6
y
(gm/c
0.95 0.99 1.02 1.07 1.12
treated
c)
2
8
1
3
1
The density of each specimens, each untreated and treated
is shown below.

Wear, is the removal of material from a solid surface of

any material, as a result of mechanical interactions and
direct contact. There are mainly
main two type wear occurs,
they are abrasive and adhesive.

Fig. 10: Abrasion resistance of untreated and treated

specimens
The instrument used in the finding of abrasion wear is
Din abrader. The Din abrader is shown below.
Fig. 8:: Density of untreated and treated specimens
The result of density test shows that, there is a small
increase in increase in fiber loading.
Abrasion test
The abrasion test, otherwise the wear resistance, calculate
the volume loss when the rice straw fiber natural rubber
composite specimen undergoes a continuous wear for a
entire span of 40 meter.
Fig. 11: Din abrader
The result of abrasion test shows a increasing value of
volume loss or wear, to the increasing fiber loading. And
also the surface treatment of fiber helps to reduce the
volume loss. So that, the wear get reduced by the surface
treatment. Hence, the abrasion resistance or wear
resistance is decreasing with increase in fiber loading.

Fig. 9: Specimen sample for the abrasion test

Table. 6: Abrasion of each specimens
Specimens (fiber
%)
Relativ untreate
e
d
volum
e loss
treated
(mm3)

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S1

S2

S3

S4

S5

314.5
6

327.1
3

356.1
5

375.0
1

418.3
9

278.3
1

293.7
5

318.2
1

334.7
5

357.3
1

Hardness test
Hardness measurement of a substance implies the
resistance of a material to undergo plastic deformation.
Here, to find the hardness of rice straw fiber reinforced
natural rubber composite we using shore A durometer.
Usually for elastomers like natural rubbers,
rubb
the shore A
durometer is used for the hardness test. The shore A
durometer having a reading upto 90 unit.

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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (IJAERS)

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The thickness of specimen before and after applying the

force is applied is measured and the compression ratio is
found out by the above equation.

Fig. 12:: Shore A durometer

The shore A durometer is just place above the specimen
and applying 2 pound of force on it for 4 seconds of time,
and
nd take is for four tials, and average shore A reading o
the 4 trials is taken as the hardness reading of that
particular specimen.
Table. 7: Hardness of each specimens
Specimens
S4
S5
S1
S2
S3
(fiber%)
Shore
A

untreated

60

69

70

85

89

treated

71

76

80

90

90

Fig. 14:: compression set apparatus

The shore A durometer is shown above fig 12

Fig. 13:: Hardness of each untreated and treated

The result shows the increasing value of hardness with the
increase in fiber loading. So for the better hardness the
high fiber content specimen is preferable.
Compression test
The compression test is carried out in compression set
apparatus. In compression set apparatus the specimen of
rice straw fiber natural rubber composite is loaded for a
160 kgf for a 24 hour time period.
Table. 8: Compression set of each specimens
Specimens (fiber
%)
Compre
ssion
set (%)

S1

S2

S3

S4

untreate
d

3.31

3.13

2.65

2.3

treated

2.61

2.45

2.01

1.7
3

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S5
2.1
1
1.5
1

Fig. 15:: Compression resistance of each untreated and

trea
treated
Here, the compression percentage decrease with the
inrease in fiber loading. The compression resistance of
rice straw fiber reinforced natural rubber composite
inrease with the increase in fiber loading. That means,
The plasticity (The ability to
t undergo permanent
deformation of a material)
material tends to decrease with
increase in fibre loading.
Water Absorption test
The water absorption is conducting by taking the weight
difference of the mold after and before dipping in water
for 24 hour time. Here, the
he water absorption is calculating
for 24 hour time.
Table. 9: WA % of each specimens
Specimens
(fiber%)
W
A
(%
)

untreat
ed
treated

S1

S2

S3

S4

S5

1.259
5
0.672
4

1.735
7
1.122
7

2.230
4
1.676
9

2.98
7
2.09
1

3.527
5
2.630
9

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[Vol-3,
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available rice straw fber can be made in to a useful
composite material.
5.1 Advantages
Producible with low investment at low cost, which
makes the material an interesting product
pr
for low
wage countries.
Fully degradable, so highly environmental friendly.
The raw fiber material (rice straw fiber) is abundantly
available.
Now a days rice straw is fired in the field, because of
the less demand on the rice straw fiber. That
T
can be
avoided by this application of rice straw
Fig. 16: Water absorption rate of both untreated and
treated
The result of water absorption shows a increasing value of
water absorption with the increase in fiber loading. For
the treated and untreated rice straw fiber composite its
same, that the water absorption is icreasing. But on
comparing the treated and untreated, the treated fiber
composite is lesser hydrophilic and more hydrophobic in
nature. Surface treatment increases the
he hydrophobicity of
the fibers and thereby reducing the water absorption
properties, and thus increases the mechanical
characteristics.
V.
CONCLUSION
This work shows that successful fabrication of a rice
straw fiber reinforced natural rubber composites. The rice
straw fiber reinforced polypropylene composite[1] having
a decreasing tensile strength with the increase in fiber
loading, but in this thesis work, the rice straw fiber
reinforced natural rubber composite, we got a increasing
value off tensile strength with the increase n fiber loading.
It indicates that the adhesion between rice straw fiber with
natural rubber is more effective than adhesion between
rice straw and polypropylene resin. The composite
material made with treated rice straw
w fiber is more
advantageous and it has comparable mechanical
properties with other composite materials. The results
obtained from this study conclude that 50% fiber with
3mm length is suitable for light weight and low load
applications. Composite properties
es further improved by
fibre surface treatment, which enhances adhesion between
fibre and matrix. It is concluded in this study that surface
treatment markedly improves the mechanical properties
of the Rice straw reinforced natural rubber composite
material.
l. It having a great possibility is there to synthesis
rice straw fiber and rubber to form a composite, and that
can be a great change for the modern world, because it
would be a biocomposite, and more environment friendly,
and bio degradable. The rice straw
aw is now a days, having
low use, and it is fired in the field itself. The abundantly
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5.2 Limitations.
Cant be used for high strength applications.
applications
5.3 Applications
Good for washers.
Transportation: automobile and railway coach
interior, boat, etc.
As a substitute for plywood.
Mat production.
Toys
5.4 Scope For Future Work
The chemicals used in this synthesis of rice straw
fiber reinforced natural rubber composite, influence
in the mechanical properties of the composite, The
better combination of the used chemicals
che
needs a
further study.(eg
eg the sulfur used when mixing process
helps to increase the hardness of the composite.)
There is a very wide scope for future scholars to
explore this area of research. Many other aspects of
this problem like effect of fiber orientation, loading
pattern, weight fraction of ceramic fillers on wear
response of such composites require further
investigation.
This study leaves wide scope for future
investigations. It can be extended to newer
composites using other reinforcing phases and the
resulting experimental
ntal findings can be similarly
analyzed.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I express my sincere thanks to my parents, my mom and
dad, they were the motive to do this thesis work. And I
express my thanks to my teachers, technical staffs of
common facility service center and
an all my dear friends for
their support and help during this thesis work.
REFERENCES
[1] K sudhakar, ch srinivas,Investigation Of Mechanical
Properties Of Rice Straw Fibre Polypropylene
Composites. www.ijera.com,ISSN:
www.ijera.com,
2248-9622, Vol.
4, Issue 1(Version 2), January
anuary 2014, pp.182-187
pp.182
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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (IJAERS)

[Vol-3, Issue-9, Sept- 2016]
https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijaers
ISSN: 2349-6495(P) | 2456-1908(O)
[2] A. grozdanova, a. buzarovskaa, g. bogoeva-gacevaa,
m. avellab, m.e. erricob, g. gentilleb Rice Straw As
An Alternative Reinforcement In Polypropylene
Composites.HAL Id: hal-00886354 Submitted on 1
Jan 2006
[3] R. Udhayasankar1 and B. Karthikeyan,A Review on
Coconut Shell Reinforced Composites,international
journal of chemtech research coden (usa): ijcrgg issn:
0974-4290 vol.8, no.11 pp 624-637, 2015
[4] S.harisha, D. peter michaelb, A.benselyb, D.mohan
lalb, A.rajaduraic Mechanical property evaluation of
natural fiber coir composite
materials characterization 60 (2009) 4449
[5] andressa ceclia milanese, maria odila hilrio cioffi
and herman jacobus cornelis voorwald Mechanical
behavior of natural fiber composites, av dr ariberto
pereira da cunha n333 12516-410 guaratinguet/sp
brazil
[6] Pradeep upadhyaya, Manoj garg, Vijai kumar, Ajay
K.Nema The effect of water absorption on
mechanical properties of wood flour/wheat husk
polypropylene hybrid composites Received 12 April
2006; received in revised form 22 June 2006;
accepted 29 June 2006
[7] Nwigbo S.C, Atuanya C.U, Ulasi O The study of the
mechanical properties of female african human hair
reinforced polypropylene composites.
A.international journal of engineering and
mathematical sciences jan.- june 2013, volume 3,
issue 1, pp. 103 114
[8] M.R.Ismail, Ali.A. M.Yassen, and M.S.Afify
Mechanical properties of rice straw fiber-reinforced
polymer composites received september 17, 2010;
revised march 3, 2011; accepted march 6, 2011
[9] Mehul Bagadiya1,Prof. R.N Desai, Prof.S.J.Padhiyar
Reinforcement of natural rubber by using human
hair vol-2 issue-3 2016 ijariie-issn(o)-2395-4396
[10] Susheel Kalia, B.S. Kaith, Inderjeet Kaur
Pretreatments of Natural Fibers and their
Application as Reinforcing Material in Polymer
Composites-A Review Singhania University,
Pacheri Bari, Jhunjhunu-333 515 Rajasthan, India

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